ATLANTA — Athletes are gearing up to gut it out for bronze, silver, and gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, there's a different metal some competitors are after, some call it the unofficial sport of the Games: pin trading.
"The pins to me have memories. I can look at a pin and remember where I got it, who I got it from, the interaction there," said Pin Trader Scott Reed.
The trades date back to the first modern international Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.
Since then, the pins have gotten sleeker and the collections are a whole lot bigger.
"Years ago, I bought a million pins. It was 20,000 pounds, it took a 48-foot-semi to move them," he said.
With a million pins, Reed is clearly an expert, so we asked him to check out our 11Alive collection.
"NBC pins are really popular, and I'm not just saying that because you're with NBC, but they do a good job," he said.
Some pins sell for just 10 cents, but others can make a pretty penny.
Olympic pin-trading | An unofficial sport
Chief Photojournalist Jon Samuels collected pins during coverage of the last few Olympic Games, and Reed checked out his stash.
Turns out, they're valuable!
Reed estimated that four of Samuels' pins likely cost $1,000 altogether.
For diehard collectors, the pins can actually fund a trip to the Olympic Games.
"It would pay for your room, it would pay for your food, so it was really, really worthwhile," said Olympic Pin Collector Darwin Edwards, known to his friends as Big Ed.
Big Ed says more than the money, it's the pact of the pin.
"It's the friendships you make with the pins; it's just the way to break the door down and make unique friends for life," he said.
He says all you need to start is your first pin and a desire to win.
That's when the games begin.